Sliding current collector for overhead wires of electric railways



SLIDING CURRENT COLLECTOR FOR OVERHEAD WIRES OF ELECTRIC RAILWAYS Filed May 16. 1928 Pp n i V Fig 3 f weng 17: 11 Z'salerle Zwgm; I

Patented Jan. 21, 1930 UNITED STATES JULIUS FISCHER DE TCVAROS, OF BUDAPEST, HUNGARY SLIDING CURRENT COLLECTOR FOR OVERHEAD WIRES OF ELECTRIC RAILWAYS Application filed May 16, 1928. Serial No. 278,309.

The present invention relates to sliding current collectors for overhead wires of electric railways, and particularly to pivotally mounted sliding collectors of sheet metal having a flat contact surface.

The object of the invention is to secure the greatest stability of the sliding collector with the minimum weight.

The invention is described with reference to the annexed drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagram explaining the conditions of stability of the pivotal sliding collector;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation and Fig. 3 a plan view of one form of sliding collector according to the invention;

Fig. 4: is a plan view of a modification; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-section on line 5 5, Fig. 4.

IVith reference to Fig. 1, a is the contact surface of a flat current collector which is pivoted on shaft -b to tilt about the axis b thereof. C is the overhead wire, against which the collector a is pressed by means of springs not shown in the drawing. R is the force of reaction acting upon the sliding collector a-, being the resultant of the spring pressure and the frictional re sistance between collector a-- and wire C. The reaction force or resultant R is inclined from the vertical zvw and intersects the collector surface somewhat in front of the medial plane of the collector in the direction of travel indicated by arrow g If the breadth of the collector is not great enough, the direction of the reaction R will not intersect the pivot axis b but will be situated behind said axis as shown at B so that the reaction R will tend to tilt the collector in the direction of arrow z-. Hence the breadth S must be at least great enough to ensure the intersection of pivot axis -b. I have found that there is a relation between the distance z' of the cont-act surface a from the pivot axis b and the minimum breadth S, which secures the stability of the sliding collector. In order to ensure that the pivotally mounted collector shall exactly follow the conductor, it is necessary to reduce the inertia and the weight of the collector as far as possible, so that the minimum value of the breadth securing stability should not be exceeded. On the other hand, it is desirable to use bow-shaped sliding collectors, as shown in Fig. 2, in order to prevent the ends of the collectors from encroaching on the air switches of the overhead wire.

According to this invention the breadth of the contact surface of the tilting bowshaped sliding collector is gradually decreased substantially proportionally to the decrease of the distance of the contact surface from the pivot aXis or axis of tilting.

In Fig. 1, S is the cross-sectional breadth of the contact surface of the bowshaped current collector at the point where the distance of the contact surface a from the aXis Z) is z' such breadth being reduced to S and S respectively at the points where the distance of the contact surface a from the axis -b decreases to -i and z' respectively. In spite of this decrease of breadth, the stability of the current collector bow is equal throughout the whole length of the bow. An equi-stabile bow is thus obtained with the minimum weight.

In Figs. 2 and 3 the cross-sectional breadths of the bow corresponding to the breadths S, S and S of Fig. 1 are indlcated at g q g g and 9 -9 respectively.

As the middle part m of the length of the bow diverges only slightly from its tangent or might even be completely plane, the breadth of the collector at such part might be uniform, as represented in Fig. 4.

According to Figs. 4 and 5, transverse span wires 6 are arranged below the contact surface connecting opposite points of the flanges f of the collector. These transverse span wires may be provided only at the section m of greatest breadth of the collector. Owing to these transverse span wires, a slight 95 transverse convexity will be imparted to the contact surface by which the inequality in wear of the contact surface caused probably by the flection of the overhead Wire will be equalized. It will be understood that fiat 001- lectors having a great breadth in the longitudinal direction of the overhead wire undergo greater wear in the neighbourhood of their edges than in the middle part of the contact surface; and by suitably adjusting this convexity, the difference in wear can be substantially equalized. If the collector is provided with lubricatinggrooves 9, these latter are preferably deep enough to rest upon the transverse span wires 6.

The collector can be provided with any well known type of balancing weight, illustration of which, however, is omitted.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

1. A sliding current collector consisting of a bow-shaped sheet metal plate tiltable about a longitudinal axis, the breadth oI said plate gradually decreasing, at least at both ends, towards the points of shortest distance from said axis.

2. A sliding current collector consisting of a bow-shaped sheet metal plate tiltable about a longitudinal axis, the breadth of said plate being substantially proportional to the distance of its contact surface from said axis.

3. A sliding current collector consisting of a bow-shaped sheet metal plate tiltabl about an axis, flanges on the longitudinal edges of said plate, and transverse span wires connecting opposite points of said flanges.

4. A sliding current collector consisting of a bow-shaped sheet metal plate tiltable about an axis, the breadth of the contact plate regularly decreasing, at least at both ends, towards the point of shortest distance from said axis, flanges on the longitudinal edges of said plate, and transverse span wires connecting opposite points of said flanges.

5. A sliding current collector consisting of a bow-shaped sheet metal plate tiltable about an axis, the breadth of the contact plate regularly decreasing, at least at both ends, towards the point of shortest distance from said axis, flanges on the longitudinal edges of the plate, and transverse span wires connecting opposite points of said flanges, said plate being provided with lubricating grooves which rest upon said wires.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JULIUS FISCHER DE rovitnos. 

